Sliding gate closure for bottom-pour vessel removable as a unit

ABSTRACT

A sliding gate closure which includes a replaceable orifice plate positioned in a fixed relation to a removable mounting plate. Blank gates and nozzle gates are supported on entrance and exit rails depending from the mounting plate, and on levers pivoted to the mounting plate in the space between the ends of the rails opposite the outlet from the vessel. Levers are spring actuated and can be adjusted individually beforehand and the position of adjustment maintained through changes of orifice plate.

United States Patent [72] inventors Earl P. Shapland, .I r.

Champaign, lll.; James T. Shapland, Willtens Township, Allegheny County, Pa. [2| Appl. No. 827,605 [22] Filed May 26, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 [73] Assignec United States Steel Corporation 54] SLIDING GATE CLOSURE FOR BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL REMOVABLE AS A UNIT 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 222/504, 222/505, 222/512, 222/56l, 222/567 [51 1 Int. Cl 867d 3/00 [50] Field oi Search 222/504, 56], 5 i2, 567, 505, 566 [56] Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,501,068 3/1970 Shapland 222/5 1 2 3,480,l86 ll/l969 Primary Examiner- Robert B. Reeves Assirmm E.raminer.lames M. Slattery AImrney-Walter R Wood ABSTRACT: A sliding gate closure which includes a replaceable orifice plate positioned in a fixed relation to a removable mounting plate. Blank gates and nozzle gates are supported on sel. Levers are spring actuated and can be adjusted in- PATENTEDuuv 9 IQYI SHEET 1 [IF 2 FIG: I

FIG: 2

EARL BSHAPLANQJR 8 JAMES 7T .SHAPLAND Attorney SLIDING GATE CLOSURE FOR BOTTOM-POUR VESSEL REMOVABLE AS A UNIT This invention relates to an improved slidable gate construction for use as a closure on a bottom pour vessel.

Although our invention is not thus limited, our gate construction is particularly useful as applied to vessels for pouring molten metal, for example a ladle or tundish. Such vessels have an outlet in the bottom wall through which molten metal is poured into a receiving vessel. It is know to equip the pouring vessel with a slidable gate mounted on the underside of the bottom wall for controlling flow of metal through the outlet, one example of which is shown in James T. Shapland US. Pat. No. 3,352,465. The vessel carries a hydraulic operating mechanism for positioning the gate. One practice is to use a reciprocable gate which has both a blank area and a nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the patent. The gate is slidable back and forth between positions in which the blank area underlies the outlet to close it, or the nozzle is aligned with the outlet to permit pouring. Another and usually preferred practice is to use gates of the slide-through type, each of which is either a blank or provides a nozzle, as shown in FIGS. 4 and of the patent. As the operating mechanism shoves each gate into alignment with the outlet, the new gate shoves the preceding gate on past and eventually off the vessel.

In constructions used heretofore, the bottom of the vessel has carried a fixed orifice plate secured to the vessel with a mortar seal, and the gate-mounting and -operating mechanism has been separately secured to the vessel. Replacement of either the orifice plate or the gate-mounting mechanism has been an awkward operation. It has been necessary to readjust completely both the height of the rails which support the gate and the force on the springs which hold the gate against the orifice plate. These operations must be conducted with the parts installed on the vessel.

An object of our invention is to provide an improved gate construction, applicable to either the reciprocating type or the slide-through type, in which the orifice plate and the gate support form a unitary assembly easily installed on a vessel or removed therefrom.

A further object is to provide a gate construction of the foregoing type, the rails and springs of which can be adjusted accurately before installation on a vessel.

A further object is to provide a gate-supporting mechanism which includes independently adjustable multiple levers for supporting the gates to assure a tight seal and compensate for warpage, thereby effectively preventing formation of fins.

In the drawing:

FIG. I is a top plan view, with parts broken away, of a slidable gate and operating mechanism therefor in accordance with our invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on line II-II of FIG. I, but showing the mechanism mounted on a pouring vessel;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section on line III-III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section on line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross section on line V-V of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 4, but showing a modification.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a bottom-pour vessel 10 which has a metal shell 12 and a refractory lining 13. The bottom wall of vessel 10 has an outlet opening within which a nozzle 14 is mounted. Our gate construction includes a metal submounting plate 15, which encompasses the lower end of the nozzle and which we attach to the bottom of the vessel with plurality of screws 16. We removably attach a metal mounting plate 17 to the underside of the submounting plate 15 with a plurality of screws 18. Plate 17 supports rectangular fixed orifice plate 19, which has an orifice 20 forming a continuation of the nozzle opening (FIGS. 4 and 5). The orifice plate if formed of a suitable refractory, but has a throwaway metal frame 21. We interpose a layer of mortar or a refractory gasket 22 between the nozzle 14 and the orifice plate 19 to afford a seal against escape of molten metal via this route. The upper face of the mounting plate 17 has a rectangular opening 23 and upwardly facing shoulders 24 around the perimeter of this opening to receive and support the orifice plate I9. Fixed to the mounting plate 17 are a pair of opposed depending entrance rails 25, exit rails 26, and two sets of spring housings 27 located at opposite sides of the orifice plate 19 in the space between the ends of the entrance and exit rails. Preferably we weld the rails and spring housings to the plate to form a single integral part.

We pivot respective levers 28 of the first class to the undersides of the spring housings 27 on pins 29 (FIG. 4). Each housing contains a respective compression spring 30. The lower end of each spring 30 bears downwardly against the outboard end of a different lever 28. We fasten metal plates 31 over the spring housings 27 at each side of the nozzle plate 19 with screws 32 (FIG. 1 The upper ends of springs 30 bear against plate 31. We attach heat shields 33 to the underside of rails 25 and 26 underlying levers 28. The mounting plate 17 has longitudinal passages 34 which communicate with the spring housings 27 through cross passages 35. We connect air lines 36 to passages 34 and introduce air to the springs via the passages to prevent their overheating.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which we replace the spring housings with hydraulic cylinders 38. These cylinders contain vertically movable pistons 39, the lower ends of which bear against the outboard ends of the respective levers 28. Cylinder heads 40 and packing rings 41 encircle the pistons and provide a seal. We introduce hydraulic fluid to the cylinders through longitudinal passages 42 and cross passages 43 in the mounting plate 17. In other respects the modified structure is similar to that already described; hence we have not repeated the description.

The submounting plate 15 has an extension 46, preferably formed integrally therewith. We attach a double-acting fluid pressurecylinder 47 to the underside of extension 46 with brackets 48. The cylinder has the usual connections (not shown) for admitting and discharging motivating fluid, and it contains a reciprocable piston and piston rod 49. The outer end of the piston rod carries a ram 50 horizontally aligned with the space between the entrance rails 25. We fix a pair of opposed vertical plates 53 to the extension 46 and to the shell 12. Conventionally plates 53 may be welded to the extension and bolted to the shell, whereby they can be removed from the vessel with the submounting plate 15. The inner faces of plates 53 carry respective angle irons 54, which slope downwardly toward the vessel and together form a chute for loading nozzle gates 55 and blank gates 56 onto the entrance rails 25. The submounting plate 15 has an opening 57 at the lower end of the chute through which the gates drop to the rails.

In assembling the mechanism, we attach the submounting plate 15 to the vessel with screws 16. The submounting plate already carries cylinder 47, vertical plates 53 and angle irons 54. Separately we assemble the mounting plate 17, levers 28, pins 29, springs 30, plates 31, and heat shields 33. We adjust the compressive force of springs 30 to afford the necessary force to hold a gate 55 or 56 firmly against the underside of the orifice plate 19, but at the same time permit easy movement of the gate relative to the plate. We insert an orifice plate 19 in the opening 23 of the mounting plate, where its frame 21 rests on shoulders 24, and we apply a layer of mortar or a refractory gasket 22 to the top of the orifice plate. We next attach the assembled mounting plate 17 and orifice plate 19 to the submounting plate 15 with screws 18. We load nozzle gates 55 and blank gates 56 in the proper sequence onto the entrance rails 25, and use the cylinder 38 and ram 50 to shove the gates successively into alignment with the nozzle 14 and orifice plate 19. This last operation is the same as described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 of aforementioned Shapland patent; hence we have not repeated the description.

The orifice plate 19 is an item which requires frequent replacement. In our construction this plate occupies a fixed position with respect to the mounting plate 17. Consequently there is no need to readjust the compressive force of springs 30 every time we replace the orifice plate. To remove an orifice plate, it is necessary only to remove the four screws 18 which attach the mounting plate 17 to the submounting plate 15. The thickness of the mortar layer or gasket 22 may vary each time, but this variation does not affect the relative position of the orifice plate and mounting plate. However, the springs 30 are individually adjustable to compensate for warpage.

We have shown the present invention applied to a slidethrough type of gate, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the aforementioned patent. Nevertheless it is apparent the same principles may apply to a reciprocating gate as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the patent.

We claim:

1. The combination, with a bottom-pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising:

a submounting plate fixed to the underside of said vessel and having an opening beneath said nozzle;

a mounting plate removably fixed to the underside of said submounting plate and having an opening beneath said nozzle and horizontally spaced upwardly facing shoulders at the perimeter of the last-named opening;

an orifice plate received in said last-named opening and removably resting on said shoulders in a fixed relation to said mounting plate;

sealing means overlying said orifice plate;

said orifice plate bearing directly against said shoulders and bearing through said sealing means against said submounting plate;

gate-supporting means carried by said mounting plate on its underside;

a gate slidably supported on said gate-supporting means;

and

means carried by said vessel for slidably positioning said gate in relation to said orifice plate and nozzle;

said orifice plate being removable from said last-named opening from above when said mounting plate is removed from said submounting plate without disturbing the position of said gate-supporting means relative to said mounting plate.

2. A closure mechanism for a nozzle in the bottom wall of a vessel, said mechanism being formed as a unitary assembly and comprising:

a submounting plate adapted to be fixed to the underside of the vessel and having an opening adapted to be positioned beneath the nozzle;

a mounting plate removably fixed to the underside of said submounting plate and having an opening beneath said first-named opening and horizontally spaced upwardly facing shoulders at the perimeter of said last-named opening;

an orifice plate received in said last-named opening and removably resting on said shoulders in a fixed relation to said mounting plate;

sealing means overlying said orifice plate;

said orifice plate bearing directly against said shoulders and bearing through said sealing means against said submounting plate; and

means carried by said mounting plate on its underside for supporting gates enabling them to be slidably positioned in relation to said orifice plate;

said orifice plate being removable from said last-named opening from above on removal of said mounting plate from said submounting plate without disturbing the position of said gate-supporting means relative to said mounting plate.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said submounting plate includes an extension lying outside the bottom of said vessel, and the means for slidably positioning said gate includes a fluid-pressure cylinder and ram operated thereby horizontally aligned with said gate.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said gatesupporting means includes an opposed pair of entrance rails depending from said mounting plate, an opposed pair of exit rails depending from said mounting plate and being ali ned with and spaced from said entrance rails, a plurality o opposed pairs of levers of the first class pivoted to the underside of said mounting plate in the space between the ends of said entrance rails and said exit rails, and spring means urging the outboard ends of said levers downwardly, said spring means being adjustable individually before said mounting plate is installed on said vessel and permitting the position of adjustment to be maintained despite variations in the position of said orifice plate relative to said nozzle.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said submounting plate includes an extension lying outside the bottom of said vessel, and comprising in addition a chute supported above said extension for loading gates on said entrance rails.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 comprising in addition means in said mounting plate for introducing air to said spring means to cool the latter.

7. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said orifice plate if formed of refractory and a throwaway metal frame sur rounding said refractory. 

1. The combination, with a bottom-pour vessel which has a nozzle in its bottom wall, of a closure mechanism for said nozzle, said mechanism comprising: a submounting plate fixed to the underside of said vessel and having an opening beneath said nozzle; a mounting plate removably fixed to the underside of said submounting plate and having an opening beneath said nozzle and horizontally spaced upwardly facing shoulders at the perimeter of the last-named opening; an orifice plate received in said last-named opening and removably resting on said shoulders in a fixed relation to said mounting plate; sealing means overlying said orifice plate; said orifice plate bearing directly against said shoulders and bearing through said sealing means against said submounting plate; gate-supporting means carried by said mounting plate on its underside; a gate slidably supported on said gate-supporting means; and means carried by said vessel for slidably positioning said gate in relation to said orifice plate and nozzle; said orifice plate being removable from said last-named opening from above when said mounting plate is removed from said submounting plate without disturbing the position of said gatesupporting means relative to said mounting plate.
 2. A closure mechanism for a nozzle in the bottom wall of a vessel, said mechanism being formed as a unitary assembly and comprising: a submounting plate adapted to be fixed to the underside of the vessel and having an opening adapted to be positiOned beneath the nozzle; a mounting plate removably fixed to the underside of said submounting plate and having an opening beneath said first-named opening and horizontally spaced upwardly facing shoulders at the perimeter of said last-named opening; an orifice plate received in said last-named opening and removably resting on said shoulders in a fixed relation to said mounting plate; sealing means overlying said orifice plate; said orifice plate bearing directly against said shoulders and bearing through said sealing means against said submounting plate; and means carried by said mounting plate on its underside for supporting gates enabling them to be slidably positioned in relation to said orifice plate; said orifice plate being removable from said last-named opening from above on removal of said mounting plate from said submounting plate without disturbing the position of said gate-supporting means relative to said mounting plate.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said submounting plate includes an extension lying outside the bottom of said vessel, and the means for slidably positioning said gate includes a fluid-pressure cylinder and ram operated thereby horizontally aligned with said gate.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said gate-supporting means includes an opposed pair of entrance rails depending from said mounting plate, an opposed pair of exit rails depending from said mounting plate and being aligned with and spaced from said entrance rails, a plurality of opposed pairs of levers of the first class pivoted to the underside of said mounting plate in the space between the ends of said entrance rails and said exit rails, and spring means urging the outboard ends of said levers downwardly, said spring means being adjustable individually before said mounting plate is installed on said vessel and permitting the position of adjustment to be maintained despite variations in the position of said orifice plate relative to said nozzle.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 4 in which said submounting plate includes an extension lying outside the bottom of said vessel, and comprising in addition a chute supported above said extension for loading gates on said entrance rails.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 4 comprising in addition means in said mounting plate for introducing air to said spring means to cool the latter.
 7. A combination as defined in claim 2 in which said orifice plate if formed of refractory and a throwaway metal frame surrounding said refractory. 